Sunday, June 29, 2008

Delmarva Now had an excellent feature article about former Terp Andre Collins (2001-04), who was named Italian Lega2 MVP this spring, while his club, Carife Ferrara, won the Italian Lega2 Championship and earned a berth in the Italian Series A league next winter.

Now, following a second season in which Carife won the regular-season championship and a spot in the first division next year, Collins is on vacation, visiting family and friends in Crisfield, while savoring his first pro title and thinking about where basketball will lead him next. [...]

While the 25-year-old Collins was the named league MVP this season, that kind of success was far from his mind at the beginning of his rookie campaign, when he was struggling to adjust. But that uncertain period didn't last long.

"I had a pretty good rookie season," he said. "It was very difficult to adjust, because European basketball is totally different. It was like my first year at Maryland, when it took me a while, but by the time ACC play rolled around after playing against Steve Blake and Juan Dixon all the time in practice, I was able to compete."

Gist watched the draft from his parents' home in York, Pa. He was outside getting some fresh air when he heard the celebration. He'll try to join an experienced Spurs roster that is perennially a threat to win the NBA championship.

The Diamondback notes that second round picks have an uphill road to making it big:

Second round picks are not guaranteed contracts in the NBA. Many second rounders initially play in Europe or the NBDL, a developmental league designed to prepare players better for the NBA.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

The European free agent signing frenzy contines, as Drew Nicholas (1999-2003) signed a new, two year deal with Panathinaikos, of Athens, Greece. Nicholas had been on the sidelines all spring after his Turkish team, Efes Pilsen, released him for refusing to travel to Serbia for a Euroleague game. Panathinaikos is also the current team of Sarunas Jasikevicius.

The NBA Draft is tonight, and James Gist (2004-08) has been traveling the country working out for a variety of teams. Most media outlets project him as a late second round pick tonight. The Washington Times has a long feature article about Gist's draft preparation:

There is no such certainty for Gist. Instead, he attended the league's predraft camp in Orlando, Fla., last month. He has spent the last two weeks on the road, bouncing from workout to workout.

Among the stops: Houston; San Antonio; Sacramento, Calif.; Chicago; Portland, Ore.; Cleveland; Toronto; and Milwaukee. Less than a week ago, Boston called to arrange a workout less than 36 hours before the draft.

All could be destinations for Gist, who is listed among the final 10 picks on several mock drafts. NBAdraft.net projects him as the 51st pick to Dallas, while Draft Express (54th to Houston) and Collegehoops.net (58th to the Los Angeles Lakers) also have him being selected.

The Diamondback says Gist is forecast as an energetic defensive stopper off the bench in the NBA:

Gist welcomes any role he can claim and realizes that he won't be a double-double threat like he was over the past couple of years.

"Coming into the NBA, I don't plan on playing a lot," Gist said. "They have their guys who can do a lot of scoring, and I don't look at my role as that. I'm a defender; I look to defend the [small forward position]. Come in and guard the Tracy McGradys of the league, the Kobe Bryants."

Morris had a stellar debut season in the Euroleague with Maccabi, quickly going from a role player to dominant force on the team. He averaged 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 25 Euroleague games, leading the competition in blocks and finishing second in rebounding. He was a truly efficient player, making 60.8% of his two-point shots and 49.2% from downtown. Morris dominated during a 10-game span at the end of the regular season and into the Top 16, when he recorded 14.2 points, 11 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He was named Euroleague Basketball MVP for the moth of January for his efforts and in addition to being an All-Euroleague First Team selection, finished as runner-up in the voting for the Best Defender Trophy. [...]

"A player of Morris's caliber, just could not avoid the area of CSKA interest," CSKA CEO Andrei Vatutin said of the signings. "Last season demonstrated how valuable he is as a player, and we could see it during Final Four in Madrid… It is not so easy to earn All-Euroleague Team selection. I am very happy that CSKA managed to win the battle for this player against the biggest European clubs. It is very important that Terence gladly responded to CSKA’s proposal and is ready to meet our requirements."